The Latest: Threat of ethnic violence looms in Nairobi slum

The Associated Press

Updated 12:23 pm, Sunday, August 13, 2017

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Opposition leader Raila Odinga raises his arm as he addresses his supporters in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Opposition leader Raila Odinga raises his arm as he addresses his supporters in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Opposition leader Raila Odinga, center, wearing a white cap, walks to the stage to address his supporters in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga chase after his car after he addressed them in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga chase after his car after he addressed them in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and urged supporters to skip work Monday. less

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga cheer his arrival in the Nairobi's Kibera area, Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. Addressing the crowds, Odinga condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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A Kenyan shopkeeper opens his store tagged with graffiti calling for peace in Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The neighbourhood erupted into violence a day earlier as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga demonstrated after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared victorious in Kenya's presidential election. less

A Kenyan shopkeeper opens his store tagged with graffiti calling for peace in Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The neighbourhood erupted into violence a day earlier as supporters of opposition ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Young Kenyan children skip on the street inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

Young Kenyan children skip on the street inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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Young Kenyan children play soccer inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

Young Kenyan children play soccer inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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A member of the congregation listens as the pastor preaches for peace at a branch of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

A member of the congregation listens as the pastor preaches for peace at a branch of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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Church goers attend Sunday service in Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga demonstrated after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared victorious of Kenya 's presidential election. less

Church goers attend Sunday service in Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Church goers attend Sunday service in Nairobi's Kibera slum Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga demonstrated after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared victorious of Kenya 's presidential election. less

Church goers attend Sunday service in Nairobi's Kibera slum Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Church goers attend Sunday service In Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga demonstrated after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared victorious of Kenya 's presidential election. less

Church goers attend Sunday service In Nairobi's Kibera area Sunday Aug. 13, 2017. The congregation is very small one day after the neighbourhood erupted into violence as supporters of opposition leader Raila ... more

Photo: Jerome Delay, AP

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Kenyan youth play the board game "Ludo" inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

Kenyan youth play the board game "Ludo" inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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Pastor Abinael Ombina sings for peace at a branch of the African Divine Church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

Pastor Abinael Ombina sings for peace at a branch of the African Divine Church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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Members of the congregation sing and pray for peace at a branch of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday as pastors delivered Sunday Sermons following deadly post-election violence where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. less

Members of the congregation sing and pray for peace at a branch of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God church, inside the Mathare area of Nairobi, Kenya Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. The Mathare area seems calm Sunday ... more

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

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The Latest: Threat of ethnic violence looms in Nairobi slum

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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Latest on Kenya following its elections (all times local):

7:10 p.m.

Witnesses in Kenya say machete-wielding members of two rival ethnic groups are confronting each other in a Nairobi slum following days of election violence.

The stand-off between members of the Luo and Kikuyu groups is occurring in Mathare, where police and rioters have clashed in the days since Kenya's diputed Aug. 8 election.

An Associated Press journalist at the scene says some of the people involved in the confrontation are carrying machetes. The journalist says he saw a Luo who had a deep machete cut in his head after he was attacked by Kikuyus.

The possibility of an outbreak of ethnic violence has been a concern because many Kenyans vote along ethnic lines. President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was declared the election winner, is a Kikuyu; opposition leader Raila Odinga, who alleged vote-rigging, is a Luo.

More than 1,000 people died in ethnic-fueled violence following Kenya's 2007 election. Odinga was the losing candidate in that vote, and was later made prime minister in a power-sharing agreement designed to defuse tension.

4:25 p.m.

The office of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta says recent protests over the country's disputed election have been violent and unlawful.

Presidential spokesman Manoah Esipisu said Sunday that any peaceful protests are a constitutional right and would be protected by police.

"But sadly, we have seen violent protests, in which property has been damaged, and lives have been endangered," Esipisu said. "The violent protests are unlawful, so let me be perfectly clear here: The police will not tolerate breaches of the peace; instead, they will protect the lives and property of Kenyans; and they will restore law and order."

Opposition leader Raila Odinga said Tuesday's election was rigged. The election commission denies the allegation and has declared that President Uhuru Kenyatta won a second term. Kenyan police deny a human rights report that they killed 24 people in election violence.

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4:00 p.m.

The Kenyan police force is denying a report by a Kenyan human rights group that its officers have killed 24 people in election violence since Tuesday's vote.

The National Police Service said on Facebook Sunday that police have killed six "criminals" who were looting and rioting and attacked police officers in the past two days.

Police say they are aware of the shooting death of a 9-year-old girl in a Nairobi slum and are investigating. The force says it is being targeted by false allegations designed to escalate tensions.

Violence broke out in some areas in Kenya after opposition leader Raila Odinga said the election was rigged. The election commission denies the allegation and has declared that President Uhuru Kenyatta won a second term.

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3:15 p.m.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has condemned police killings of rioters during protests after the country's disputed election and is urging supporters to skip work Monday.

Odinga on Sunday spoke to a crowd in Kibera, a Nairobi slum where opposition supporters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas in past days. Violence had broken out after Odinga said the Aug. 8 election was rigged; Kenya's election commission, which declared President Uhuru Kenyatta had won, says its voting process was fair.

Odinga says there was "a plot to kill our supporters" and says opposition backers should protest by not going to work on Monday. He is also promising a major announcement on Tuesday.

A Kenyan human rights group says 24 people have been killed since the election.

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3:10 p.m.

Kenyan areas that were hit by deadly election violence were quiet on Sunday, with many people attending church services and police patrolling some streets.

Pastors delivered sermons appealing for calm in the Nairobi slum of Mathare, where rioters have battled police who fired live ammunition and tear gas. The pastors asked congregations to help rebuild and leave matters to God even if they feel they have been victims of injustice. Outside the churches, made of little more than wood frames and tin roofs, children played soccer, darts, checkers and other games.

Similar scenes unfolded in the capital's Kibera slum, another site of recent clashes. The city of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold, was also calm, witnesses said.

While most of Kenya was unaffected by violence, opposition strongholds erupted in protest after their leader, Raila Odinga, said the election Tuesday was rigged. Police gunfire has killed at least 24 people, according to a Kenyan human rights group.